befree

English

Etymology

From Middle English *befreen, *bifreen, from Old English befrēoġan (“to free, liberate”); equivalent to be- +‎ free. Cognate with West Frisian befrije (“to liberate”), Dutch bevrijden (“to liberate, deliver”), German befreien (“to set free, liberate”), Swedish befria (“to liberate, free, deliver”).

Verb

befree (third-person singular simple present befrees, present participle befreeing, simple past and past participle befreed)

1. (transitive) To make or set free; liberate; deliver; release.
   • 1917, Massachusetts. Constitutional convention, Journal...:

     Such is the fascinating future for Russia in the event of the establishment and welding of the befreed Russian Nation into a strong and firm democratic State.

   • 1975, Asia Institute, Asian perspectives, Hague, Netherlands:

     They helped rather the big industrialists than to befree the poors from the yoke of the money-lenders.

Anagrams

• beefer